After 38 years of working in government — the last 10 of which have been with the City of Redmond — Craig Larsen is retiring.

The 64-year-old Shoreline resident will be stepping down as director of parks, recreation and cultural arts at the end of this month.

“My wife Chris and I have a very busy life outside of work,” Larsen said about why he is retiring. “We enjoy travel, landscaping and home remodeling, and I have a serious car hobby including a couple of sports cars and a vintage race car I built and race as often as I can. We bought a beach house last year and I look forward to being able to enjoy it more often.”

CAREER CONTRIBUTIONS

With Larsen at the helm of the department, the city acquired four miles of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad right-of-way and built the Redmond Central Connector, according to a City of Redmond press release. He has been also in charge of the department while the city has worked on developing the Downtown Park, purchased and opened Smith Woods Park, rebuilt Grass Lawn Park and Spiritbrook Park, rehabilitated the Redmond Pool, advanced planning for a new Recreation Center and significantly improved business operations in the department, the release states.

“I am very pleased with the Redmond Central Connector and the progress we have made on Downtown Park,” Larsen said about the accomplishments. “Both enhance the quality of life in Redmond, and ensure our downtown is a great place to live and visit.”

He said while he has been with Redmond, they have been able to offer a “diverse recreation program which serves hundreds of thousands of participants each year, including a wide range of senior, teen and all-ages fitness, sports, learning and arts programs.”

“Craig is a creative and energetic leader who has made a tremendous contribution to the city,” said Mayor John Marchione. “His efforts have made the city a better place to live and I am grateful for his contribution.”

Marchione added that all of Larsen’s work increased the quality of life in Redmond.

“Under his leadership we designed and built the Redmond Central Connector, obtained Smith Woods for the new North Redmond neighborhood and revitalized Redmond Derby Days,” the mayor said.

TEAM LEADER

Despite being singled out for these achievements, Larsen credits his department for this programming.

“Our park operations team is the best I have ever seen and we have been able to manage a wide variety of parks and facilities because of our high-quality staff and their efficient approach to the work,” he said.

Larsen added that the people he has worked with in Redmond will be what he misses the most when he retires.

Those who have worked under Larsen’s leadership have equally complimentary things to say about him.

Joshua Heim, cultural arts administrator for the city, said he came to Redmond specifically to work with Larsen because of his strong reputation for supporting the arts. Heim said since he has been with the city, he has watched Larsen create an environment that allowed the arts to thrive — encouraging innovation, putting his trust into the creative process and standing behind the artists.

“I mean, who else goes to bat for an idea to cart five giant golden eggs throughout the streets of downtown Redmond?” Heim asked, referring to the interactive performances artist-in-residence Lucia Neare has put on during the last few years. “Craig did. And I’ll miss him dearly for that.”

Heim is not the only person who joined the city to work with Larsen.

Mark Hickok, recreation division manager for the city, met Larsen at a conference where Larsen was presenting eight years ago and was very impressed.

“When an opportunity came up to work with him, I jumped at the chance,” said Hickok, who came to work at the city in 2009.

He said Larsen has been an “amazing leader, mentor and friend.”

CREATIVE BUSINESS

Prior to coming to Redmond, Larsen worked as planning director for King County for 24 years as planning director and parks and recreation director and four years at the City of Lynnwood as parks and recreation director.

It was while he was working at the City of Lynnwood that he met Katie Anderson, who is now deputy director of the department in Redmond and will be acting director of the department until a new director is chosen early next year.

“Craig has supported and encouraged my professional development over the years and in particular has shown me the importance of being simple and clear when communicating with citizens, council and city employees,” she said. “It has been an honor to work with Craig.”

Anderson said Larsen shared his vision for urban design, creativity, innovative and strategic thinking and “out-of-the-box” ideas about parks, trails and recreation programs with the rest of the department.

Ken Wong, teen programs administrator for Redmond, also praised Larsen’s creativity and innovation and his encouraging the same in others.

“I have had the pleasure of working for Craig since he has been with the City of Redmond,” Wong said. “What I have appreciated the most from Craig is his caring to take the time to listen but also ask the tough questions. He loves to hear ideas but makes sure you flush them out…A great leader allows his staff to fulfill the vision that he has created with them and Craig has been that visionary for the city.”

Larsen describes parks and recreation as a “good news business and very entrepreneurial.”

“We build and maintain beautiful places and provide programs and events that people want,” he said. “You get immediate feedback and a real sense of accomplishment when you get it right.”

In the next 10 years, if Redmond stays on its current course, Larsen predicts the city will continue to be a center of innovation and creativity.

“I am an architect, planner and a parks and recreation professional,” he said. “I believe in planning, designing and building the future you want. Important for me is quality urban design, a high quality and sustainable park and open space system and an investment in public art and events.”